Materials and methods for high energy density silicon lithium ion batteries

Abstract

A silicon anode material has silicon tubes bonded directly to a copper current collector. The material may be made by casting a sacrificial substrate on copper foil; depositing silicon on the sacrificial substrate and copper foil; and removing the sacrificial substrate such that silicon nanotubes remain which are bonded directly to the copper foil. The nanotubes may be amorphous silicon. A lithium ion battery includes a layer of interconnected thin-walled silicon tubes. The porous nature of the layer as well as the open core of individual tubes provide space for the silicon to expand without pulverizing upon cycling.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.